First And Last by Stacey Kennedy

the way, I’m starving, so don’t be long,” Willow said as she scurried off.
     
    Kyden shifted me in his arms, sat down beneath my willow, and gazed deeply into my eyes. “Please do not cry. It kills me.” It did, I could feel the fierce torment running through him.
     
    “I just can’t take this. My God, Kyden, you came close to dying tonight. Too damn close.”
     
    He sighed, a long troubled breath. “Yes, I realize I may have acted stupidly, but loving you drives me to such things. When I saw the magic coming toward you, fear drove me to act. It was without thought that I jumped in front of you.”
     
    I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “I can’t lose you. Do you hear me? I cannot go on without you. You can’t act so foolishly.”
     
    “I’m sorry.” He pushed me away from him a bit so he could look into my eyes. “But I also don’t believe we’ll have to face such a thing again.”
     
    I wiped my tears. His apology settled my remaining upset with him. He never apologized, ever. It meant a lot to hear it come from him.
     
    “I’m still in shock that you’ve gained my ability. Does that mean you can use magic then?”
     
    He shook his head, and ran his hands over my damp cheeks to dry them. “I went to see Zia when I got back. She identified that I indeed have been gifted the ability to shield magic, and therefore, send it back like you can. I cannot produce it on my own though.”
     
    “And just how did she identify that?”
     
    He grinned. “She sent a tidal wave my way. It was a quick test to determine the protection and it did indeed prove that I held the power to deflect.” He winked. “She was soaked in the process.”
     
    I laughed, then sighed deeply. “I just wish everything was normal again. You know, no Underworld, no demon scary talk, just kicking some serious ass.”
     
    He leaned forward and kissed my cheeks. “I agree with you, but it is what it is.” He kept my face in his hands, cradled me in his strong grip. “There will be a time, Álainn, when the danger around us will cease.”
     
    “God, I hope you’re right.”
     
    Suddenly, a loud scream came from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see Haven running down the hill, with Zia, Talon, and Finn following. “Is it true? Is it really true?” Finally her words became more than screaming nonsense.
     
    “It is.”
     
    She came to a skidding halt on her knees in front of us. “I can’t believe that! Giving your ability to a Guardian,” she shook her head, awe danced along her face. “That’s unbelievable.”
     
    Zia came closer. “Work it all out?”
     
    “Yeah. I was just really scared, that’s all.”
     
    “I imagine you were, but it’s a pleasant thing to know this long-standing fight between you two will finally be over. Hmm? Now, he can join you and those worries are put at ease.”
     
    I hadn’t really thought about the fights between us being over finally. It really made him crazy when I went fighting without him. I guess it did come as a relief to know that I’d never have to have this argument again with him. I also knew the problem was going to be letting me fight. If he saw I was in danger, he’d probably act just as he did tonight and take control of the situation. This argument wouldn’t never entirely be put to bed. He wanted to protect me and I wanted to fight my own battles. The problem was neither of us would give in. Ever.
     
    “Kyden told us the jist of what happened, but he said that there was something you needed to tell us. So, what is it?” Haven interrupted my thoughts.
     
    I glanced directly at Zia, needed to see her reaction when I told her. “I can draw runes.”
     
    Yep, got the reaction I thought it would. Her jaw dropped.
     
    After she found her voice, she asked, intrigued. “Is that so? It’s quite unusual and I’ve never heard of that before. Did Misa have any answers for why you would possess this trait?” She cocked her